A chart of growth in the Blue Ridge rankings.

U of M Medical School Ranked #28 in NIH Funding

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Kristine Elias, Director of Communications and Marketing
2 minutes

The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research recognized the University of Minnesota Medical School as the 28th most funded institution by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the 2020 NIH rankings; the Medical School was ranked #27, #30 and #33 in the past three consecutive years (2017-2019).

Overall, NIH funding to the Medical School increased by $25,754,798 this year, to $226,088,969 — a 13% increase; NIH funding has increased nearly 76% in the last five years.

In addition, 13 of our departments maintained or improved their ranking, including:

  • The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics improved to #5 from #6 with over $2.5 million in increased funding.
  • The Department of Emergency Medicine improved to #34 from #35 while maintaining funding year over year.
  • The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health is ranked #3 again but increased funding by $1.5 million.
  • The Department of Microbiology and Immunology improved to #39 from #44, gaining approximately $1.8 million in funding.
  • The Department of Neurology improved to #33 from #35.
  • The Department of Neuroscience improved to #7 from #8 with a nearly $2 million increase in funding.
  • The Department of Neurosurgery improved to #44 from #46.
  • The Department of Otolaryngology improved to #13 from #29 with a nearly $4 million increase in funding.
  • The Department of Pediatrics is ranked #8 again but increased funding by $4 million.
  • The Department of Pharmacology improved to #24 from #33 with a nearly $2.5 million increase in funding.
  • The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences improved to #16 from #19 with a nearly $7 million increase in funding.
  • The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine improved to #4 from #5.
  • The Department of Surgery improved to #32 from #37 with a nearly $1.5 million increase in funding.
The NIH is the largest federal provider of basic research money to universities. Each year, the Blue Ridge Institute evaluates NIH data tables and ranks universities based on their annual NIH grant support. Improving the Medical School rankings is a top priority of the Board of Regents as a measure for advancing the University.